Chapter 332: Chapter 301: Battling the Nascent Soul Stage_1

“What is the meaning of this?”

Xu Mu stepped out of the flying boat, looking at the young man who stood in his way, his brow slightly furrowed.

The young man was dressed in a blue robe embroidered with clusters of bamboo patterns. The robe exuded a spiritual glow, making him look very extraordinary. His aura restrained, it was difficult to perceive his specific cultivation level, but Xu Mu’s sharp sixth sense told him that the man before him was extremely dangerous.

No one at the Golden Core Stage can give me such a feeling, could this person be –

I’ve been very careful all along, I shouldn’t have attracted anyone’s attention!

Is it possible that he is a pursuer sent by the enemies from the imperial capital?

But only Li Youlan knew about me leaving the Imperial Capital, it couldn’t possibly be her who sent someone, or leaked the information, could it?

Xu Mu didn’t think this was likely. Even if Li Youlan didn’t want him to leave, she wouldn’t send a Nascent Soul Stage pursuer after him. The cost of mobilizing a Nascent Soul Stage was colossal, not to mention whether Li Youlan had the capability- even if she did, it wouldn’t be worth it.

“Are you Xu Mu, known as the number one beneath Nascent Soul Stage?”

There was a hint of ridicule and disdain in the young man’s indifferent eyes. Clearly, he didn’t like this title.

Upon hearing these words, Xu Mu secretly cursed.

Being able to cite his name right away, this guy was definitely well-prepared. And he set up a Formation – it was clear that he didn’t come in peace.

“My friend, I fear you may have the wrong person. My name is not Xu Mu and I don’t know any Xu Mu!” Xu Mu replied without changing his expression.

To avoid detection, he had changed his appearance shortly after leaving the Imperial Capital. Even his closest kin would have a hard time recognizing him.

“Ha! You still dare to deny it before me, you’re quite bold! But it doesn’t matter, you’re as good as dead anyway!”

As he spoke, the young man squeezed the Finger Jue, and countless vines stretched out from his body, rapidly wrapping and lashing towards Xu Mu.

The vines grew rapidly, instantly enveloping a hundred feet vicinity. Xu Mu didn’t even have time to dodge, he and the flying boat were both shrouded within.

Despite this situation, the young man didn’t intend to stop. He scattered something like dandelion seeds from his hands, which flew in every direction. They then sprouted in mid-air, growing rapidly into plants as tough as black iron, sealing off the entire void.

Buzz!

A blue sword light suddenly burst out from the center, instantly cutting the surrounding vines into pieces, revealing Xu Mu’s figure.

“You do have some skills!”

The young man’s expression didn’t change much. His sent out those black iron plants, launching blade-like leaves from every direction.

The blue sword light dimmed quickly under the onslaught of numerous leaves.

“How can the Nascent Soul Stage Talisman compare to an actual Nascent Soul Stage cultivator!” The young man sneered.

Seeing the blue sword light about to break, Xu Mu suddenly triggered all its power, combining man and sword to charge in one direction.

“You really don’t know when to give up! If you accept your fate, I might spare you some torture!”

As he spoke, the young man threw a number of green fruits at Xu Mu.

These fruits quickly caught up to Xu Mu like cannonballs, and exploded violently next to him, completely blowing open the sword light.

Afterwards, a large number of black iron plants grew rapidly, entangling and trapping him in a small space.

Xu Mu continuously unleashed magic skills to strike at the plants. Although he broke a lot of branches and leaves, they grew faster than he could destroy them. The plants kept getting denser, and there was soon only a small space left.

“Stop struggling. The gap between the Nascent Soul Stage and the Golden Core Stage is not something you can imagine. The so-called number one under the Nascent Soul is just a pleasant title to hear. In my eyes, you’re just a big ant!”

The young man’s eyes were filled with disdain, showing the pride brought about by his level of cultivation.

Frankly speaking, if not for the fact that I owed him a favor, I wouldn’t stoop so low as to kill a Golden Core Stage cultivator given my abilities and status.

“Just accept your fate! You offended someone you shouldn’t have!”

The young man flew up, grabbed at the void, and all the plants with faint spiritual light increased their growth speed, completely engulfing Xu Mu.

“Who is the ant remains to be seen!”

A column of purple flame burst out from the center, endless lightning flickered, and a figure holding a bronze halberd broke through the seal of plants like a wrecking ball, heading straight for the young man.

“How is it possible?”

The young man’s expression changed drastically, his eyes full of shock.

He hastily summoned a wooden shield artifact, placing it above his head.

Thud!

The power of the bronze halberd was astonishing; a single hit had filled his wooden shield with cracks.

Connected in spirit and mind, the young man spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

The shock in his heart was like a humongous tidal wave.

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

How could a Golden Core Stage cultivator injure him, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, with a single blow? This was unimaginable, completely shattering his concept of reality.

“Nothing is impossible; you’re just being shortsighted!”

Showing no mercy, Xu Mu reversed his Sky-splitting Halberd and struck again.

While he couldn’t refine the Sky-splitting Halberd or harness its power, he had made some progress over the years.

He had learned from Li Youlan the skill of wielding long weapons, which allowed the Sky-splitting Halberd to unleash even more formidable power.

“Defeat me, impossible!!!”

The young man bellowed in rage; being injured by Xu Mu felt like an immense humiliation.

He quickly formed a hand seal, his body’s spiritual power crazily flowed into the wooden shield. The damaged wooden shield artifact astonishingly began to quickly repair itself.

However, Xu Mu’s attack eventually landed first, once again smashing the wooden shield, which was now on the verge of collapsing.

The young man didn’t dare to resist further and swiftly withdrew his shield artifact.

This was his lifebound artifact. Though it had been damaged, it could still be repaired. If it were completely destroyed, it would be game over for him.

With the wooden shield gone, Xu Mu’s Sky-splitting Halberd immediately struck the young man who transformed into an escape light to dodge.

Not being proficient in close combat, he intended to create some distance before fighting Xu Mu again.

However, Xu Mu wouldn’t let him have the chance.

“Paralysis Skill!”

A beam of skill light enveloped him and instantly immobilized him.

Although it only lasted a fraction of a breath, it gave Xu Mu enough time. The Sky-splitting Halberd hacked fiercely onto the young man.

Plort!

The young man came out from the escape light, spewing a mouthful of blood. His aura was significantly weaker, his robe was torn apart, and a large wound appeared on his back. One could see the deep white bone and vague bloody flesh inside.

“He could only sustain a wound, how can his defense be this strong?”

Xu Mu couldn’t help but feel shocked.

He was fully aware of the power of the Sky-splitting Halberd; unless it was a top-quality defensive artifact, no one could withstand a hit. Not to mention the body, even the soul would be torn apart.

Xu Mu quickly noticed a large amount of green moss growing by the wound of the young man. They entwined together to form a net-like layer covering the wounded area.

It seemed that the mysterious layer of moss had blocked most of the attack.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Mu’s attack landed again.

“Despicable ant!”

The young man’s eyes turned blood red as he cursed angrily.

Being injured repeatedly had ignited his fury.

Layers of green light appeared on his body and a large amount of green moss grew at a rapid pace, wrapping his body entirely. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a fearsome green giant.

Xu Mu’s attack could only leave a large gaping wound and could not completely break it open.

“The Nascent Soul Stage is indeed troublesome!”